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On the Tunisian east coast, dozens of migrants are waiting to cross the Mediterranean towards Lampedusa. Since the start of the year, nearly 2,500 of them have died at sea.
They live in small groups. Hide behind olive trees to avoid being spotted by the police. We are in El Amra, a small port town on the east coast of Tunisia. Migrants of sub-Saharan origin have only one goal: “We all have one idea in mind, to cross the Mediterranean”. But before taking your chance and joining an illegal departure zone, you must struggle and adapt to very precarious living conditions. It is from here that they plan to leave to reach Lampedusa (Italy). The distance by sea is 190 km.
New waves of arrivals in Lampedusa
It is one of the shortest crossings, which is why the number of boats taking this route on the Mediterranean is constantly increasing. Despite the risks, on board the boats, there are often dozens of people crammed together. Since the start of the year, nearly 2,500 migrants have died in the Mediterranean. “The weather forecast is good. The good weather favors arrivals, so we have to prepare seriously”says Serena Corniglia, spokesperson for the Lampedusa Red Cross.